Another ebay bargain

[simon2a3]

Only a day to go, don't miss out... Pair of 1950s WE 300bs

Simon

[Greg.]

I've heard WE 300B's and wouldn't give three and sixpence for them. They're **** compared with modern EH Goldgrids or TJ Meshplates.

Best wishes,

Greg

[Darren D]

I've heard them too....nuff said....not the WE's that is.. had a pair of 300a's once, sold them pretty pronto...:p

[Clive]

Strangley I've changed my opinion of them. Since I've had WE's in WE91 amps, running the same plate dis as before I now find they work well (I don't use them below 100Hz). I use them in preference to TJ Mesh. Are WE worth the money?

NO!

EH Gold, Svet and some others ain't so far behind.

[Max N]

Yes, I think Greg's comment that they are **** compared to EH is an exaggeration. **** value maybe, but from what I remember from the shootout, the WE's had the best (magical) midrange. The TJ's were better overall on the day. Once price was taken into consideration, the WE's look over-priced, but they are not ****.

[Clive]

I suppose at first sight (or hearing) the price of the new production WE's seems crazy. So comments about their being **** are understandable in this context , if not really accurate.

The only defence I can think of for the WE's is that they are supposed to last about 4 times longer than other 300B's and I should imagine that mesh plates will often be run close to their 30W/32W limit. So in comparision to the price of TJ Mesh then maybe the WE's are actually ok value ($900 vs $309, matched pairs) IF their lifetime claims are valid. Might be better value....if the claims are true.

EH's etc are of course much cheaper, however you look at it.

I still can't be sure of the bass as I don't use the WE for lower bass.

[Greg.]

Hi Max,

Ok, I was being a bit over-the-top dismissive, and I'd only give three and sixpence for them to sell on for profit In comparison to the sound of others available today, I personally don't think they seriously compete, even if they do last four times as long. On the TJ's, they'll not last long dissipating 32W. Jac Music recommend running them at 18W to get a reasonable life out of them

Best wishes,

Greg

[Max N]

Its also worth mentioning the reject rate of EH gold grids. Greg, was it you who had to buy several pairs, or am I getting confused with someone else? Or was it that they also couldn't be run at 32W? Blimey, I can't believe I've forgotten so soon after the shoot-out

Regarding the WE 300Bs, bass is definitely their weak point. Call it soft or bloomy or plummy, whatever. I can understand exactly why Clive is getting good results with them if he's not asking them to do low bass. But its also a mistake to dismiss all 300Bs as having poor bass if you haven't heard the TJ meshplates, for instance.

[Greg.]

Hi Max,

Fair point. I originally bought two matched quads because the price was so good from ChinaArts on eBay. When I finished the 300B PP clone, it was dissipating 36W and in a fully darkened room I could see plate glow (cherry red). I reduced dissipation to 30W and on four of my valves there is no glow. The other four do have a very slight detectable cherry tinge still, but I'm talking total darkness with plenty of time for the eyes to adjust. James had the same experience with his two quads. China insisted all his valves were new, factory tested and not factory rejects. With the passage of time, I've lost my concern on this. If the plates glow slightly, big deal. As ever I am being pedantic about this issue. If you recall last Eggfest, my amp initial distorted on one channel when hooked up to Neals KLS6's and it was corrected with a single valve swap. That valve has been subsequently tested by Rob as measuring fine (actually I think these sort of hick-ups can simply be down to our sort of gear not liking to travel). So to date, I don't actually have any valve failures although originally I was concerned this might be a feature of this cheap supply of EH gold 300B's. At the price, even early failure if it occures is affordable. They are just £35 each and have been generally surveyed by members here as being only just behind the best performer, and personally I prefer their sound to the TJ's so for me it's a win win. Oh, and I have great bass.

Best wishes,

Greg

[Clive]

Originally Posted by Greg.

On the TJ's, they'll not last long dissipating 32W. Jac Music recommend running them at 18W to get a reasonable life out of them

I've run 300B's at 20W, no matter which ones I used (the full set from the HFW DIY article), I did not like the resulting sound. Brian Cherry recommends 28W to 30W for the meshes, I suppose he makes good money on them when they burn out and replacements are purchased! Seriously though I reckon he's correct soundwise.

My problem with WE's was mainly the bass, in many ways the mid makes up for this but ultimately they were unbalanced. Nowadays with my Bastani Prometheus speakers the bass issues go away as 120Hz to 100Hz downwards is solidstate so the WE's are working for me now. Would I purshase a replacement pair? No.